Improvement in horseshoes



UNITED STnTns TATENT @Tirion AARON W. SMITH, OF MANCHESTER, NEWHAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSESHQES.

Specliication forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,590, datedSeptember 9, 1873; application lod February 19, 1873.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON W. SMITH, of Manchester, in the county ofHillsborough, New Hampshire, have invented a certain Improved Horseshoe,of which the following is a specification:

The first part of this invention consists in a peculiar mode ofcombining a supplemental shoe or wearing-sole `and a cushion ofvulcanized rubber, (caoutchouc,) or equivalent material, with apermanent horseshoe, so that the former may be applied to the shoe afterthe shoe has been nailed to the hoof, and may be readily removedtherefrom without disturbing it, while the rubber cushion shall be freeto give its elastic support at all points, the object of the latterbeing to give an artificial spring to the foot on pavements, frozenground, and the track. The second part of 5 the invention consists inthe combination of a flexible main shoe, a solid slotted supplementalshoe, and an interposed cushion. The third part of the inventionconsists in the extension of this cushion in marginal flanges to protectthe edges of the shoe, so as to prevent injury by interference,overreaching, or striking. The fourth part of the invention consists inmeans for securing and supporting removable calks in a superiormanner.

Figure 1 is a perspective top view of a flexible and elastic horseshoe,illustrating this invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective bottom view of thesame. Fig. 3 is a perspective bottom view of the main shoe. Fig. 4 is aperspective top view of the wearing-sole or supplemental shoe, partly insection. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the complete shoe.

This horseshoe, in its preferred complete form, consists of threeprimary membersnamely, rst, a main shoe, A, for permanent attachment, bynails or their equivalent, to the horsesfoot 5 second, a supplementalshoe or wearing-sole, B, for application to the former after it isattached 5 third, an interposed cushion, C, of rubber, or itsequivalent, to give artificial spring to the foot on pavements, frozenground, and the track. A toe-calk, D, and heel-calks `E are applied tothe wearingsole B to roughen it. Two modes of attaching these calks areillustrated; but it will be understood that both the toe and heel calksmay be attached in either way. The iirst consists in the use of rivetsz, by which the toecalk D is attached in the illustration. The secondmode consists in the use of countersunk77 screws y, in combination withplugs w, which may be of wood or metal, held in tapering or straightsockets. These plugs form stationary nuts to receive the points of thescrews, and when a screw is broken off they facilitate removing it,obviating resort to drilling. The calks E are further constructed withmarginal anges w, to embrace bosses 'v on the shoe, to strengthen thejoints between them. VThe calks may be of any preferred shape. Themain'shoe A is preferably of the peculiar form represented, havinginward sole extensions a to support the frog, and a toe-joint, t, topermit the natural expansion and contraction of the hoof thus induced.This construction is the subject-matter of a former invention, patentedby me June 11, 1872. The heel-bars s serve to support the adjoiningedges of the sole extensions u, to prevent undue strain on thetoe-joint, and to give a more solid support to the foot. Two of thesebars may be einployed, as in the illustration, or one may be employed asa tenon, in connection with a corresponding socket in the other part.This main shoe is secured to the hoof by nails, as in the illustration,or in any preferred way, and the rubber cushion C is then appliedthereto, and secured by the application of the wearing-sole orsupplemental shoe B. The cushion (l is conformed to the shoes proper,and is constructed with a marginal enlargement, r, which embraces andprotects the edges of the shoe, so as to prevent injury byinteri'erence, overreaching, or striking. It may be molded out ofcaoutchouc, or any similar elastic material. The main shoe A is providedwith countersunk internally-threaded bosses q, and the supplemental shoeB with countersunk slots p to receive screws o, for attaching thesupplemental shoe and interposed cushion. The outer ends of the bosses qenter the perforations p, and play vertically therein as the cushionexpands and is compressed. The elongation of these perforations,constituting them slots, permits the movement of the parts of theilexible main shoe. The supplemental shoe is preferably made in onepart; and for c Y renace winter use it is made solid to prevent balling. The elastic sole, as thus made,'docs not come iu contact with thefoot so as to heat it, as is the case with leather and rubber soles forthe same purpose. The cushion C may also be made solid, as it does notcome in contact with the foot. The main and supplemental shoes and calksare preferably cast, and then malleableized, and to increase thedurability of the callrs they may be passed through an additionalsteelifying process.

The removable supplemental shoe and elastic cushion are disclaimed,except as combined with each other and attached to the main shoe, in themanner herein set forth. An intcrfering attachment77 similar in shape toa section of the elastic cushion is likewise diselaimed; also, thelateral supports for the calks, broadly, and in themselves considered.

The following is claimed as new l. The main shoe A, supplemental shoe orwearing-sole B, and interposed elastic cushion C, when the same areunited by screws o and bosses q, iu combination with countcrsunl;

perforations p, receiving the said bosses, so as not to obstruct theyielding movement of the sole, as set forth.

2. The combination of a'flexible shoe, A, a slotted supplemental shoe,B, and an interposed cushion, C, as herein described.

3. The edge guard fr, combined with the cushion C, as described, for thepurposes specified.

4. The plugs x, constructed and employed substantiall y as described, incombination with screws y for attaching the calks.

5. The combination of the flanges w, bosses o, countersunk screws y, andplugs substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

6. The rivet-shanks z of the calk D, headed on the upper side of theremovable supplemental shoe B, as described, for the purpose specified.

AARON W. SMITH. Witnesses:

IsAAc L. HEATH, E. M. TOPLIFF.

